CEDAR: The Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere Using the USU/CASS Atmospheric Lidar Observatory

研究人员使用大气激光雷达观测站将低层大气与上层中间层和下层热层耦合起来。基于激光雷达对平流层中层到低层热层温度的观测，这强调了上层中间层和低层热层之间的过渡区域。使用更大的望远镜，他们能够精确地确定上层中间层的瑞利散射温度和时间分辨率，并将最大高度扩展到100公里以上。利用夜间平均激光雷达温度研究过渡区的季节变化，特别是(1)87和102 km附近的中层顶高度和结构，(2)夏季高空逆温层（瑞利激光雷达）与90 km附近逆温层（钠激光雷达）的关系，(3)中层逆温层向更高高度垂直波状外观的行为。这些夜间的时间变化（或它们的月平均值）检查时变现象，如潮汐和中层逆温层向下/向上的相位进展。

Researchers use the Atmospheric Lidar Observatory to couple lower portion of the atmosphere with the upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere. Based on lidar observations of mid-stratosphere to lower thermosphere temperatures, this emphasizes the transition region between the upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere. Using a much larger telescope, they're able to precisely determine Rayleigh-scatter temperatures and time resolution in the upper mesosphere, and extend maximum altitude above 100 kilometers. Nightly averaged lidar temperatures are used to study seasonal variations in the transition region, especially (1) the mesopause altitude and structure near 87 and 102 kilometers, (2) the relationship between high-altitude summer inversion layers (by Rayleigh lidar) and an inversion layer near 90 kilometers (by sodium lidar), (3) the behavior of vertical wave-like appearance of mesospheric inversion layers to higher altitudes. These nightly temporal variations (or their monthly averages) examine time-varying phenomena, such as tides and downward/upward phase progression of mesospheric inversion layers.